New Women's Health Clinic Puts Spotlight on Female Sexual Health

Tuesday, July 26, 2005

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic has opened a new multidisciplinary clinic to treat women in their perimenopausal and menopausal years — specifically addressing sexual health and menopausal concerns.

"Although sexual health is an important part of overall health, many women are not prepared to bring up this topic with their doctors," says Lynne Shuster, M.D., a Mayo Clinic internal medicine physician and director of the new clinic. "In addition, many physicians have varying degrees of knowledge, experience and comfort advising their female patients about sexual health. Our clinic will help fill this gap."

The clinic specialists consider sexual health to be a mind, body and relational experience, not just a physical one.

Viagra advertisements and other treatments for erectile dysfunction have made conversation about men's sexual health mainstream. Dr. Shuster says that women's sexual health deserves the same attention.

The Women's Health Clinic includes a multidisciplinary team of internal medicine, gynecology, psychology and nutrition specialists. The specialists work collaboratively to address a patient's menopausal and sexual health concerns, with the goal of improving her overall quality of life. Staff diagnose, treat and provide comprehensive lifestyle counseling in one location.

Helping women manage menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness and sleep disturbances is also a focus of the Women's Health Clinic. Staff will guide patients through the conflicting evidence about the risks and benefits of estrogen therapy, arriving at solutions — from dietary and lifestyle changes to medications — that meet each patient's needs.

"Women don't have to suffer through the menopausal years," says Dr. Shuster. "Also, we've had patients who were afraid to tell their doctors that they were having sexual changes after a hysterectomy. We've tried to take the fear away and provide a setting to help women understand that their sexual and menopausal health is important and that they have a right to ask questions and seek solutions."

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To obtain the latest news releases from Mayo Clinic, go to www.mayoclinic.org/news. MayoClinic.com is available as a resource for your health stories.